THE passing- into law of
the Amending Act suggested this booklet. It appeared an opportune moment
for presenting a picture of the whole problem and supplying within the
covers of one volume the information which it is essential all who are
brought within the four corners of the Act should know. I have not
sought to deal with Part II. of the Act as that does not apply generally
to those who must come under Part I. For the purposes of Part II.
Scotland is included fin the area—Scotland and Northern—which also
includes Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham. It may,
however, be useful to summarise the results of Part II. here. The
following figures are for the United Kingdom. The number of unemployment
books issued was only slightly less than the estimated total of
2,532,000. Of these less than one-fifth had been previously insured
against unemployment. The income of the unemployment fund is at the rate
of £2,400,000, and the invested balance in July of this year was
£1,610,000. In the six months in which the scheme has been operative
400,000 individual claims have been made against the fund,
three-quarters of which were direct and only one-quarter through Unions,
etc. It is interesting to note that 62 per cent, of such claims were
covered by benefit.

The operation of Part II.
has acted beneficially on Trade Unions. Membership has increased in
those which previously gave such benefits, and 21 Trade Unions have
since begun to give unemployed benefit. In addition no fewer than 275
associations with a membership of over one million have been approved to
receive the State contribution for schemes of voluntary insurance
against unemployment. Briefly, the number of people protected against
unemployment has increased six-fold and funds are accumulating at a rate
which will enable workmen to face the next cyclical trade depression
with accumulated funds of several millions.

The facts and figures of
Health Insurance talk for themselves in these pages. They present an
amazing achievement. True, the Act is still the subject of hostile
criticism. There arc always some meagre souls who resent the success of
anything they are opposed to and who grudge the admission of their own
lack of foresight in spite of the experience of their own eyes. The
author of the scheme—Mr. Lloyd George—has been the target for all
rifles, and often the firing from the butts has not been within the
rules. But his great scheme is emerging from the confusion of the
scaffolding and the debris associated with laving foundations, and as
the lines of the building are being seen the magnificence of the
structure appeals to more and more eyes.

He has been fortunate in
his craftsmen, particularly in Scotland. The Commissioners have shown
grit and courage, have .overcome difficulties and met disappointments
with a single eye to the ultimate success of the scheme, and to-day they
are on the threshold of having 100 per cent, of the possible insurable
persons insured. It is a great record in administration and a pride to
us to know that wre have done it for ourselves.

An attempt was made
during the discussion of the Amending Act to abolish the separate
Commission, but a resolute resistance was offered to the proposal by
Scottish Liberal members with the result that the suggestion was
defeated by an overwhelming majority. It was a political Bannockburn.
Another more insidious proposal, though not defeated, was so altered as
to leave Scotland unscathed if Scotsmen so desire.

It was proposed to
amalgamate separate societies in Scotland with their centralised Society
in England for purposes of valuation. This meant sacrificing any
advantages gained in administration in Scotland. It also meant breaking
the contract under which Scotsmen had joined the scheme. Moreover it
meant that three-quarters of a million Scottish insured persons would
have been taken out of the ultimate control of our own Commission and it
requires no acute observation to conclude that such a step meant the
abolition of the Scottish Commission.

A second fight was made
against these proposals, with the result that should such amalgamation
take place any insured person has the right to transfer at once into a
Scottish National Society. Moreover such amalgamation cannot take place
without an inquiry being- held and, if required, a poll of the members.
No Scottish insured person therefore need go outside his native country
for any purpose, and he will be. a wise man if he insists on remaining
outside any scheme for joint valuation. On the results of valuation
depend increased benefits or reduced contributions, and unless all the
omens are false it will pay insured persons in Scotland to reap their
own harvest.

All interested should
study carefully Section 16 (1) of the National Insurance Act, 1913, and
if they desire to remain a Scottish entity should at once send, through
their Society, a representation to the Joint Committee to be treated as
if they formed a separate Society. This must be done within six months
of August 10th, 1913, i.e., on or before February 14th, 1914. Delay is
dangerous. After that date the foolish virgins will be left lamenting
their oilless lamps. Clause 16 creates a new position, and it must be
dealt with at once. The responsibility of delay can only rest with those
who, having the opportunity, do not immediately seize it. After the
fight that was made on the floor of the House of Commons, there is no
excuse for any dilatory proceedings. Action will now reap the reward
which those most conversant with Scottish conditions, characteristics
and ability to administer, feel certain will accrue from separate
valuation in Scotland.

The doctors of Scotland
have a great opportunity. Malingering is the vogue of the moment, and
attempts are made to prove that the Act is being made the plaything of
the born-tired. It is incidentally worthy of note that Scotland,
however, is not included in the special enquiry which is being made into
this practice. The doctor is the sheet anchor of the Society. He must
certify. It is easier to give a certificate than to refuse it. And it
may be that to keep patients there may be the temptation to be generous.
We feel certain that this will not be the case and that a courageous
exercise of duty, even at the expense of temporary unpopularity and, it
may be, of some patients, will be the rule and scarcely ever the
exception. Already there is a call for a Referee. Is this because
professional jealousy is such as to put several off-side? Let the
medical profession bear in mind that free choice of doctor does not mean
freedom either to ruin Societies or to break down National Insurance.
Let them remember that Scotland expects them to play their great part in
this fine scheme to combat disease, and that the public will not be
unmindful of their services if they are in line with the great tradition
of the profession.

Finally, it should not be
lost sight of that the Act is more than an Insurance Act. It is a vast
lever for social progress. As experience matures and the far-reaching
provisions of the original Act are put into force to compel better
conditions of housing, sanitation and public health, the greatness of
the measure will appear. As one approaches the horizon it recedes and a
fresh horizon takes its place. The horizon of the Act now is bounded by
administrative effort to secure that all who ought to be within the four
corners of the Act are there. Now that that is achieved we must look
ahead to a newer and wider horizon which we can make possible through
the social, economic and industrial facts thrown up by investigation
made necessary by the operation of the Act. Book-keeping, the collection
of statistics, investigation are mundane and uninviting. But they are
the sappers and miners that eventually enable us to meet the real
obstacles to progress. They open up to us eventually the real field the
Act will enable us to occupy.

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